This post was made in partnership with Tequila Cazadores. Ideas are my own.
This past year I’ve been really lucky to work with a brand that I have loved, and drank, for years: Tequila Cazadores. When starting this partnership I found out that I was going to have a really exciting task, introduce a brand new type of tequila to the market! I mean, it’s not everyday that a totally new category comes across your desk. 15 flavored vodkas, yes. An amazing crystal clear tequila that is actually aged 2 years and then using activated charcoal to absorb all its color… nope!
I’m honored, flattered really, to have been chosen to let you all know about this new product from Tequila Cazadores. So, let’s talk about Cristalino!
Even though Cristalino is clear, like their Blanco expression, it’s not for mixing. In fact, the suggested serving vessel is a wine glass, like how you see here. A wine glass also signifies you’re not shooting the stuff and chasing it with a lime. Just don’t do that. It’s meant to be sipped.
The reason that this aged tequila is crystal clear is due to the filtration process that is Cazadores uses. Activated charcoal is added to the liquid and all that caramel color you usually associate with an aged tequila is gone. Next, that mixture is sent through a press filter which captures all the charcoal and tannins from the barrel aging and filtration process. When it’s done, if you close your eyes, take a whiff and then a sip, you’d swear you were drinking an añejo tequila.
You’re still getting aged wood, vanilla, caramel, and apples, but there’s also this soft, floral nose to it as well. It’s just so delicious and I loved each sip.
And now YOU, and everyone else in the US, can experience this new kind of tequila as Tequila Cazadores Cristalino is now available in the United States.
For those of you who have been around here since the early days, you may recall that we were going to build a bar in what is now my studio area in the house. And if you’re new here, well, that bar never happened. Fast forward almost a decade later and we are now finally ready to start building out what will be our new outdoor entertaining area. And tucked away within will be the home bar we’ve been dreaming about for a long time. But before we even start, we have a lot to figure out, and one of those big decisions has to do with appliances.
The area we are allotting for entertaining space, including the indoor/outdoor bar and alcove is not huge, so we’re looking for small, compact appliances to put in. We’d really like as much bang for our buck if you will… And that’s why I’m loving this 
PROS:
Currently our 90 Can Beer Fridge is hanging out amongst the patio furniture but as we build out the deck and start turning our dirt floor, unfinished ground story space into a usable entertaining area, we are considering bringing the fridge either into the indoor/outdoor counter space, or maybe giving it a home near the grill. Stay tuned this year as we look to YOU with help picking out ideas for this space! And big thanks to NewAir for letting us try out their new premium line fridge.
For more information on NewAir’s entire line of products, check them out 
This post is brought to you by Banfi Wine. Recipes and ideas are my own.
There’s a pretty easy solution that probably has never crossed your mind: freeze it into ice cubes. Because wine has a low alcohol proof and is made of a higher percentage of water, it will freeze. Now, it will never get a solid as an ice cube, but it will freeze and hold a shape. I would suggest freezing the wine for a full 48Â hours before use, and to store in the ice cube trays (
I used Banfi Wine’s Bell’Agio Rosso Dolce for my ice cubes. This Lambrusco is a sweet red wine that is a perfect match for your holiday table. The sweetness of the wine is a nice addition in ice cube form when mixing up drinks so you won’t need much (or any) added sugar.
Do you have a trick for using leftover wine? Leave your ideas in the comments below!
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